Best Omar Ansari Podcasts (2025)

1
Shaykh Zakaria Abdelaziz 1:26:10

26d ago1:26:10

1:26:10

Shaykh Zakaria Abdelaziz is Canadian-born Somali. But those that know him say he lived in Tarim, Yemen for so long he is basically Yemeni. He comes from a lineage of scholars. His father, grandfather and great grandfather were all graduates of Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt. His family are descendants of the Shaykh and historian Abdur Rahman a…

1
Shaykh Ahmed Saad Al-Azhari 1:22:44

3M ago1:22:44

1:22:44

Welcome to the Journey Podcast - a podcast where we hear from our blessed teachers and community members about their spiritual journeys. My name is Hebah Masood. I invite you to reflect on the trajectories of their lives, and the guidance and blessings provided by Allah swt, along that journey. Shaykh Ahmed Saad Al-Azhari visited Toronto a few week…

1
Episode 156: Understanding the Challenges Young Muslims Face in High School with Mental Health Clinician Ali Bishop 1:55:40

3M ago1:55:40

1:55:40

Parvez and Omar kick-off 2025 by finally dedicating an entire episode to a recurring and perennial conversation on the podcast: parenting challenges in today's climate. To help navigate this conversation, they are joined by Ali Bishop, an experienced mental health professional who works as a Mental Health Clinician at a local Bay Area public high s…

1
Episode 155: Syrian-American Perspectives on the Syrian Revolution, Overthrowing Assad, and the Future of the Region 2:02:04

4M ago2:02:04

2:02:04

To close out 2024 Parvez and Omar are joined by two Syrian-American guests to share their perspectives on the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime, the potential implications and challenges facing post-Assad Syria, and how the Syrian-American community is responding to these events. Along the way the show's guests candidly (and humorously!) discuss the…

1
Episode 154: Election 2024 and the Muslim Vote with Zahra Billoo 59:29

6M ago59:29

59:29

Mere days aways from Election Day 2024, Parvez and Omar are rejoined by Civil Rights Attorney and Activist Zahra Billoo to discuss the Muslim vote and the 2024 Presidential Election. Are Muslims simply approaching who to vote for with the "lesser of two evils" calculus? Is there a long game and what are the short term consequences of playing the lo…

1
Episode 153: Instilling Righteous Masculinity in Today's Young Men and the Al Qawwamun Retreat with Imam Jihad Mustafa 2:03:28

7M ago2:03:28

2:03:28

After a bit of a hiatus due to busy schedules, Parvez and Omar are honored to be joined by Imam Jihad Mustafa, Founder of the Qawwamun Retreat. This was a wide-ranging conversation with Imam Jihad discussing how socially conscious Hip-hop brought him to Islam, how today's Zeitgest and pop culture has engendered a crisis of defining and exemplifying…

1
Shaykh Hamzah wald Maqbul 1:53:42

9M ago1:53:42

1:53:42

Shaykh C Hamzah Wald Maqbul shocked not only me, but also the barista when he ordered in fluent Uzbek at a coffee stand outside the Registan Square in Samarkand a few years ago. That’s when I knew we were in the best possible hands in Uzbekistan with Shaykh Hamzah leading our Muslim Legacy tour group. Shaykh Hamzah learned Uzbek while doing a doubl…

1
Episode 152: Muharram and Āshūrā within the Shīʿī Tradition with Ahmad Rashid Salim 3:02:05

9M ago3:02:05

3:02:05

Closing out the blessed month of Muharram, Parvez and Omar are back for a timely and important discussion about Muharram, the Day of Āshūrā, and the events of Karbala from a Shīʿī perspective. This is a deep dive into Shīʿī readings of early Muslim history and the centrality of the Ahl-al Bayt (The Household/Progeny of the Prophet Muhammedﷺ) and sp…

1
Episode 151: Prophet Abraham, Sacrifice, God's Covenant and the Land of Israel with Dr. Ali Ataie 1:41:41

10M ago1:41:41

1:41:41

A special discussion for the Haj and Eid-ul Adha season, Parvez and Omar are joined by returning guest Dr. Ali Ataie. The show dives deep into the Prophet Abraham(as) in the monotheistic scriptures/traditions, including Abraham's service of sacrifice, the innumerable blessings bestowed to Abraham and his covenant with God. The conversation then exa…

1
Episode 150: Protests, Encampments, and the BDS Movement with Zahra Billoo 1:56:14

11M ago1:56:14

1:56:14

For the show's 150th episode Parvez & Omar are joined by the second guest ever to appear on the podcast, Zahra Billoo , Civil rights Attorney and Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations San Francisco Bay Area (CAIR-SFBA). Zahra brings her years of tireless Civil Rights work and activism to bear as she discusses the recent pr…

1
Episode 149: A Physician's Medical Mission to the Gaza Strip with Dr. Mohammad Subeh 1:56:08

1y ago1:56:08

1:56:08

Parvez and Omar are truly honored to host Dr. Mohammad Subeh who just returned from a five week medical mission to the Gaza Strip, specifically the Rafah Crossing to the south. Dr. Subeh shares his background born to a Palestinian refugee family living in Kuwait and then forced to flee overnight at the start of the First Persian Gulf War and invasi…

1
Episode 148: Islam in the Inner City and the Work of Islah LA with Dr. Jihad Saafir 2:19:38

1y ago2:19:38

2:19:38

Here is an episode that's been a few years in the making! We finally had the privilege of sitting with Dr. Jihad Saafir of Islah LA to discuss his background, academic training, as well as the remarkable and pioneering work that Islah LA and Islah Academy are doing to serve the community in South Los Angeles. As you've come to expect from the podca…

1
Episode 147: Imam Tahir Anwar, His Silicon Valley Roots, Religious Education, and Advice for Ramadan 1:22:57

1y ago1:22:57

1:22:57

It's not too often that you come across a Silicon Valley raised and Dar-ul-Uloom trained Imam but that's exactly who joins Parvez and Omar to kick-off the blessed month of Ramadan. Imam Tahir Anwar, Imam of the South Bay Islamic Association and Lecturer at Zaytuna College returns to the show! This time around the discussion includes a deep dive int…

1
Episode 146: From SoCal to Al-Azhar and Back with Shaykh Jamaal Diwan 2:04:33

1y ago2:04:33

2:04:33

Parvez and Omar are honored to be joined by Shaykh Jamaal Diwan, co-founder and Resident Scholar at The Majlis. This was a wide-ranging conversation with Shaykh Jamaal discussing his personal journey connecting with his faith, his studies at Al-Azhar University, and the principles underlying The Majlis. Beyond his personal journey the conversation …

1
Episode 145: Integrating Islamic Spiritual Approaches into Professional Psychology and the Khalil Center with Dr. Hooman Keshavarzi 1:31:23

1+ y ago1:31:23

1:31:23

For our first episode of 2024 we present an interview conducted during our trip to Chicago with Dr. Hooman Keshavarzi, Founder and Executive Director of Khalil Center. Dr. Keshavarzi discusses his journey connecting with his faith, becoming a clinical psychologist, and how he integrated his studies in Islamic theology and spirituality towards creat…

1
Episode 144: Black Power and Palestine with Professor Michael Fischbach 1:32:17

1+ y ago1:32:17

1:32:17

We are back to close out 2023 and continuing our discussions on Palestine, this time through the prism of the Civil Rights struggle in the United States. Professor Michael Fishbach joins us to discuss his 2019 book Black Power and Palestine: Transnational Countries of Color. Professor Fishbach chronicles how Black Power activists and others in the …

1
Episode 143: The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine with Dr. Rashid Khalidi 51:09

1+ y ago51:09

51:09

We are deeply honored and privileged to be joined by the eminent historian and perhaps leading academic on Palestine in the United States, Professor Rashid Khalidi. Dr. Khalidi discussesed his new book The Hundred Years' War on Palestine: A History of Settler-Colonialism and Resistance, 1917-2017 which chronicles his personal and ancestral connecti…

1
Episode 142: Media Coverage of the Palestinian Crisis with The Intercept’s Murtaza Hussain 49:53

1+ y ago49:53

49:53

We are back to discuss the ongoing crisis in Palestine, this time focusing on the one-sided and ideologically motivated media coverage. To offer his analysis and perspective, and discuss the possible factors that may change that status quo, we are joined by The Intercept's veteran journalist Murtaza Hussain. About Murtaza Hussain Brooklyn-based jou…

1
Episode 141: Historicizing and Contextualizing the Palestinian Struggle with Dr. Ussama Makdisi 1:36:05

1+ y ago1:36:05

1:36:05

We had the pleasure of sitting with Dr. Ussama Makdisi, Professor of History at the University of California Berkeley for a detailed, highly enlightening and impassioned discussion of the history of the Palestinian struggle. Dr. Makdisi masterfully contextualizes what is happening right now in Palestine within the broader history of the Western col…

1
Episode 140: Diffused Congruence Celebrates 10 Years! 24:46

1+ y ago24:46

24:46

10/3/2013 - 10/3/2023 Parvez gets on mic to ruminate on 10 years of the podcast, its genesis, mission, accomplishments, pitfalls avoided, and future plans. We are immensely proud and grateful for these past 10 years but we could not have done it without you, our listeners! Thank you for your continued support, feedback, and for sharing the show. We…

1
Episode 139: What is Palliative Care and Its Implications? In discussion with Dr. Aziz Ansari and Omer Mozaffar 1:43:09

1+ y ago1:43:09

1:43:09

We continue making our way through our Chicago recordings with a very special conversation about Palliative Care, a topic that is hardly discussed in the Muslim communities but can impact the lives of young and old alike within the community. Palliative care specifically deals with relieving serious health-related suffering, be it physical, psychol…

1
Episode 138: Habeeb Quadri, Educator Extraordinaire 2:02:21

1+ y ago2:02:21

2:02:21

Next stop in Chicagoland takes us to Skokie where Parvez and Omar had the honor of sitting with author, educator and school administrator, Habeeb Quadri. We had an in-depth conversation about his experiences growing up in Chicago, what inspired him to become an educator, and his journey from teaching inner city schools in Detroit and Chicago to ser…

1
Episode 137: Ahmed Rehab and ”the Chicago Way” 1:58:04

1+ y ago1:58:04

1:58:04

Next stop on Parvez & Omar's Chicago sojourn is the beautiful CAIR offices on historic State Street in downtown where they had the privilege of sitting with Ahmed Rehab. Ahmed's ability to articulate a clear and convincing analysis of contemporary social and political issues while maintaining a fidelity to Islam's normative teachings and practices …

1
Episode 136: Shaykh Mohammed Amin Kholwadia 1:47:28

1+ y ago1:47:28

1:47:28

Parvez and Omar have the opportunity to sit with Shaykh Amin Kholwadia and learn about his lifelong journey towards Islamic scholarship, from childhood, schooling, coming to America, and ultimately, the establishment of Darul Qasim, an institute of traditional Islamic higher learning headquartered in the Glendale Heights suburb of Chicago. About Sh…

1
Episode 135: Umair Haseeb, from Chicagoland to the Maghreb and Back 2:50:12

2y ago2:50:12

2:50:12

We are joined by Umair Haseeb. They discuss his family background, growing up in Chicagoland, the spark that led to his spiritual awakening, and his studies towards Islamic scholarship abroad. About Umair HaseebUmair Haseeb formally studied Arabic, the basics of Islam, and Quran in Chicago, which lead him to move to Morocco and Sahara to pursue a f…

1
Episode 134: Professor Adnan Zulfiqar’s Work in Law, History and Religion 2:17:23

2y ago2:17:23

2:17:23

We visited the Stanford University campus to sit with Professor Adnan Zulfiqar to discuss his journey and his work in the fields of law, history and religion, as well as some of the research he is currently doing in the areas of criminal law & procedure, Islamic jurisprudence, and rule of law in the Global South. We found Adnan's experiences to be …

1
Episode 133: Shaykh Jabir Tarin on Islamic Scholarship, Muslim Mental Health, HFSAA and more! 1:46:35

2y ago1:46:35

1:46:35

Parvez and Omar return from a short post-Ramadan hiatus and meet with Shaykh Jabir Tarin to discuss his path as a young man to scholarship, his work in the growing and important field of Muslim mental health and counseling, as well his involvement with the Halal Food Standards Alliance of America (HFSAA). About Shaykh Jabir Tarin Shaykh Jabir Tarin…

1
Episode 132: Raising Muslim Children: Challenges and Insights with Ustadha Hosai Mojaddidi 2:17:08

2y ago2:17:08

2:17:08

Parvez and Omar are joined by Ustadha Hosai Mojaddidi, as they discuss the challenges (and joys) of raising Muslim children. She shares some of her own experiences growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area and also offers insights about how to instill a love of the Deen and a strong Muslim identity in our children. About Ustadha Hosai Mojaddidi Hosa…

1
Episode 131: Shaykha Muslema Purmul’s Journey to Religious Scholarship 1:38:26

2y ago1:38:26

1:38:26

Parvez and Omar are joined by Shaykha Muslema Purmul, co-founder and Religious Director at The Majlis. They discuss her family’s journey from Afghanistan to Southern California, as well as her motivations to pursue her religious studies at Al-Azhar University, and the work she is doing today as Religious Director at The Majlis. About Muslema Pumul …

1
Episode 130: The True Story of a Muslim Mystic, a Hollywood Epic, and the 1977 Siege of Washington, DC, with Shahan Mufti 1:56:18

2y ago1:56:18

1:56:18

Parvez and Omar are joined by Shahan Mufti, author of American Caliph, The True Story of a Muslim Mystic, a Hollywood Epic, and the 1977 Siege of Washington, DC.The new book is the first full account of the largest ever hostage taking on American soil and of the tormented man who masterminded it. Informed by extensive archival research and access t…

1
Episode 129: Spiritual Manipulation, Charismatic Leadership, and the Dangers of Cults, with Yousuf Azhar 2:49:20

2y ago2:49:20

2:49:20

Parvez and Omar sit down with Yousuf Azhar who shares his personal experiences joining and then leaving a Muslim cult, the corrosive spiritual manipulation and abuse he suffered, and the patterns to look out for. About Yousuf Azhar Yousuf Azhar was born in India and migrated to the USA at the age of two. He studied Arabic at the University of Damas…

1
Episode 128: Muslims in the Media, with Sue Obeidi and Dr. Eveylyn Alsultany 1:20:17

2+ y ago1:20:17

1:20:17

Parvez and Omar take a visit to Souther California to sit down in person with Sue Obeidi and Evelyn Alsultany to discuss the state of Muslims in the media. About Our Guests Sue Obeidi is the Director of the Hollywood Bureau for the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC). Obeidi ensures that MPAC’s Hollywood Bureau is a partner with the entertainment …

1
Episode 127: The Power of Storytelling, with Ahmed Khan, from the Creative Minority Podcast 1:40:20

2+ y ago1:40:20

1:40:20

Parvez and Omar are joined by a fellow podcaster, Ahmed Khan. They sit down at Zaytuna College in Berkeley to discuss the power of storytelling, and the inspiration behind some of their respective work in the world of podcasts. About The Creative Minority Podcast The Creative Minority seeks to engage with contemporary intellectual issues ranging fr…

1
Ustadh Omar Popal 1:33:45

2+ y ago1:33:45

1:33:45

Assalamu alaykum, As I pursue my own spiritual journey, I want to hear from those who have taken this path before me. This podcast focuses on them and listening to their stories — uninterrupted. My name is Hebah Masood and I invite you to reflect on the trajectories of their lives, and the guidance and blessings provided by Allah swt along that jou…

1
Episode 126: The Midterm Elections & The Problem of Democracy, with Shadi Hamid 1:05:32

2+ y ago1:05:32

1:05:32

Parvez and Omar sit down with returning guest Shadi Hamid to discuss the midterm elections and his new book, The Problem of Democracy: America, the Middle East, and the Rise and Fall of an Idea. In The Problem of Democracy, Shadi Hamid reimagines the ongoing debate on democracy’s merits and proposes an ambitious agenda for reviving the lost art of …

1
Episode 125: Zaki Returns to Discuss Polarization in Social Media, Muslim Twitter and More! 1:12:56

2+ y ago1:12:56

1:12:56

Zaki Hasan, co-founder of the show, returns to catch up with Omar and Parvez. They discuss the impacts of social media on the polarized state of politics, Muslim Twitter and much more! About Zaki Hasan Zaki Hasan has been a media scholar and critic for more than twenty years. His film reviews and analyses have appeared in The San Francisco Chronicl…

1
Episode 124: A Discussion with a Pioneer in the American Muslim Experience, Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi 2:28:23

2+ y ago2:28:23

2:28:23

Parvez and Omar make a trek down to Orange County to sit with a pioneer in the American Muslim experience, Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi and learn about his life's journey from India to Madinah to United States and to discuss his legacy and impact on the American Muslim community. About Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi is the imam and reli…

1
Episode 123: The Journey of Michael Wolfe 2:12:32

2+ y ago2:12:32

2:12:32

Parvez and Omar sit down with Michael Wolfe to discuss his journey to Islam, his pilgrimages to Mecca, and his work with Unity Productions Foundation (UPF). About Michael Wolfe Michael B. Wolfe is an American poet, author, and the President and Co-Executive Producer of Unity Productions Foundation. A secular American born in Cincinnati, Ohio to a C…

1
Episode 122: The Great Muslim American Road Trip (And Everything That Came Before It) with Mona Haydar and Sebastian Robins 1:39:39

3y ago1:39:39

1:39:39

Parvez and Omar are joined by Mona Haydar and Sebastian Robins to discuss their upcoming PBS Documentary, "The Great Muslim American Road Trip". About "The Great Muslim American Road Trip" Follow a millennial Muslim American couple on a cross-country journey along historic Route 66. As they meet new friends and explore more than a dozen stops, Mona…

1
Episode 121: Ramadan Health and Wellness, with Dr. Sofia Ghani 1:23:37

3y ago1:23:37

1:23:37

Parvez and Omar are joined by Dr. Sofia Ghani to discuss health and wellness in this holy month of Ramadan. About Dr. Sofia Ghani Dr. Sofia Ghani started her career as a clinical pharmacist managing patients' drug therapy at Baylor Medical Center in Dallas. Being around very sick people on a laundry list of medications was an everyday norm for her.…

1
Episode 120: A Look Behind the Camera, with Aaron Sellers (Part 2 of 2) 2:22:52

3y ago2:22:52

2:22:52

Parvez and Omar are joined again by Aaron Sellers and dive deep into his path as a Muslim convert, his move from the east coast to the west, to work at Zaytuna Institute, and Zaytuna's transition into a college. This is the second episode of a 2 part conversation. This is a continuation from episode 119, where we talked to Aaron about his early yea…

1
Episode 119: A Look Behind the Camera with Aaron Sellers, Part 1 of 2 1:50:38

3y ago1:50:38

1:50:38

Parvez and Omar are joined by Aaron "Haroon" Sellers and dive deep into his early years, his conversion and his early experiences as a Muslim, in part 1 of a 2 part conversation. About Aaron “Haroon” Sellers Aaron “Haroon” Sellars was born in Washington, D.C. and attended Virginia Commonwealth University, where he majored in graphic arts and develo…

1
Imam Ahmad Deeb 1:09:50

3+ y ago1:09:50

1:09:50

Assalamu alaykum, As I pursue my own spiritual journey, I want to hear from those who have taken this path before me. This podcast focuses on them and listening to their stories — uninterrupted. My name is Hebah Masood and I invite you to reflect on the trajectories of their lives, and the guidance and blessings provided by Allah swt along that jou…

1
Episode 118: Zaki Returns to Discuss The Matrix Resurrections and More in the Film Industry 2:49:20

3+ y ago2:49:20

2:49:20

Zaki Returns to Discuss The Matrix Resurrections and More in the Film IndustryBy Parvez Ahmed & Omar Ansari

1
Episode 117: The DR34M 2:32:41

3+ y ago2:32:41

2:32:41

Parvez and Omar check one off the bucket list, with NBA superstar Hakeem Olajuwon joining them for an in-depth conversation covering his entire career and more. About Hakeem Olajuwon Hakeem Olajuwon, nicknamed "the Dream", is a Nigerian-American former professional basketball player. From 1984 to 2002, he played the center position in the National …

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Omar Ansari Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen